What will be the legacy of the 112th General Assembly?

What did the 112th Indiana General Assembly do? Not much, according to some reports. The intended business of this shorter, 30-day, session was to review, refine and correct the two-year budget passed the previous year. None of this was accomplished.

However, several good things did happen.

Lawmakers voted to override the governor's veto on three comparatively low-cost bills passed by a large majority last year:

Prison ombudsman provided to handle prisoner complaints at a cost of $135,000, proven to prevent many costly problems.
Test all inmates incarcerated since June 30, 2001, for hepatitis C and HIV at a cost of $375,000 a year.
Allow nursing home residents on Medicaid to keep $52 a month of their resources for personal needs: clothing, grooming, snacks, postage, phone calls, etc.

More good news came when the House voted to uphold the governor's veto of House Bill 1083 (passed in 2001) which would allow state lawmakers to exempt themselves from the open public records law. In response to strong public complaint, 39 representatives who voted for the bill last year supported the governor's veto.

Also, due to the strong reaction from the public, regulations were approved to more closely monitor the Build Indiana Fund (state share of gambling proceeds) to distribute it more equitably to counties. The latest report is that Gov. O'Bannon will apply it to help cover budget shortfall.

Lost in the conflicts over budget and taxing revisions, bills to expand gambling in the state were not passed. However, they will be back next year.

Of the roughly 200 bills passed this session, it is not yet known which ones will escape the governor's veto.

Key legislation:

Death sentence -- prohibits someone younger than 18 from receiving a death sentence and prevents judges from overriding jury recommendations in capital cases.
Exploitation -- Imposes a maximum fine of $10,000 to health institutions that receive money or assets from a resident as a loan or gift, unless it is witnessed by two disinterested persons.
Pauper attorney -- allows courts to appoint attorneys to represent low-income Hoosiers in civil suits at no costs in exceptional circumstances.
Muscatatuck -- requires the state to keep the center for the profoundly mentally disabled open until all residents are placed in acceptable settings, even if that means until July 1, 2005.
Property tax exemptions -- extends the 150-acre property tax exemption for educational institutions to include properties used for religious, scientific, literary, or charitable purposes.
Minor employees -- requires rest breaks totaling 30 minutes for minors working at least eight straight hours; requires companies with minors who come in contact with the public after 10 p.m. and before 6 a.m. to have an adult employee present.
Prison recreation -- requires the Indiana Dept. of Corrections to allow prisoners at least one hour of exercise five days a week.

Last updated on 01/14/2004

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